What I'm Trying To Say Is, Thank You, I'm Glad You Exist, Friend.

Well, Today was one of those days that just reminds me of how much God loves me, and how much he is aware of my needs, and all our needs really. Today at church we had a change in the Bishopric and that always makes one think. Because God has put into my path people who have had such an impact and made such a change in me that I will forever be grateful for their existence, I count them among my best friends.  But, others have made such gradual adjustments to me and my life I sometimes miss it. Sister Gibbons, Thank you. I always appreciated your being around, and all that I learned from you in choir, and just your life advice, but I don't think I recognized how much you have impacted me, and all the Bishopric wives in our ward. Now, I just had another interruption, just after I started to write this blog that actually completely applies to it.  In Relief Society today we had a lesson, and it reminded me of well, who I used to be, some past trials I had to get through, and a friend, who happened to be there, who because of her experiences and stories that she chose to share with me at just the time I was in need of them. I don't think I will ever be able to say anything more than that. I will really probably never be adequately able to thank my friend, or ever explain to her what she did for me, but I wanted to try -again- because today reminded me of that sense of eternal indebtedness I feel to her.  So I sent her a text, and failed to say  anything at all of what or why I felt like I did, because I can't. I don't know how.  But , a short while after I sent the text, I got the interrupting phone call from her, and apparently my text came when she needed it most. So what I learned from this is that God is taking care of us, and he knows who to put in our life and when. When we express gratitude to that friend, and to God you never know you and that friend may both benefit from it, or maybe  only you will, and it will just be nice words to them, but you never know, so say it anyway.  So, what I am saying to all of you, each of you, Ali who sits by me when I sing loud and miss the notes I choir, Jon who has taken my phone calls and texts whenever I need you, to Brielle who always supports me in my crazy ideas, to sister Gibons, to sister Heartman, To sister La Mar,  to sister Stoner, to mom and dad, to Jen and Karen, to Michelle for staying up late nights talking to me, to Jons dad for reading my blogs with bad spelling, to my teachers and leaders and mission presidents, my companions, my roommates, and my family back in Utah, and Amanda, and Jill, and Hannah, To all of you who have been by my side, who have taught me, who have made me who I am today - What I am trying to say is thank YOU, I am glad YOU exist. Friend.  You and the friend who called, you have all made me who I am today, and I am glad, because I have become awesome, and am growing awesomer everyday, and a year ago, I was living well below my privilege and you have changed my life FOREVER.  Merci, Danke, Spaciba, Aciu, Paldies, Gracias, Kiitos, Arigato, Sheshi !!!